Pediatric Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Overview

The Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Mass General for Children specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of the full range of oral and cranio-maxillofacial abnormalities including problems of the teeth, jaws, facial bones, temporomandibular joints and salivary glands. We have a full-time faculty devoted to pediatric oral and maxillofacial surgery. The clinic facility has the most advanced technologic imaging modalities available and the surgeons provide the most advanced and cutting-edge treatments.

Conditions treated include:

• Malpositioned or impacted teeth
• Hemifacial microsomia
• Midface hypoplasia
• Cleft lip and palate secondary deformities
• Temporomandibular joint disorders
• Micrognathia
• Jaw asymmetry
• Malocclusion
• Facial fractures
• Dentoalveolar injuries
• Infections
• Jaw tumors
• Cysts
• Hemangiomas
• Vascular anomalies
• Salivary gland disease and stones
• Missing teeth replacement with dental implants

Innovations in Minimally Invasive Surgery

In recent years, oral and maxillofacial surgeons at Mass General for Children (MGfC) have developed minimally invasive techniques to correct many facial skeletal deformities. Our innovative endoscopic techniques have resulted in decreased pain and swelling and faster recovery for patients.

MGfC oral and maxillofacial surgeons are pioneers in the technique of distraction osteogenesis (DO), which allows surgeons to gradually lengthen bones by placing tension forces across an osteotomy using specialized devices.

Using DO, surgeons can lengthen bone without using bone grafts or soft tissue flaps from donor sites elsewhere on the patient’s body, as happens in traditional surgery. DO significantly reduces morbidity, healing time and time in the operating room under anesthesia.

Patient Resources

View the full collection of patient resources from Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at MGfC.

Research

At the Skeletal Biology Research Center within the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, our researchers are working on a wide array of projects including advances in distraction osteogenesis, tissue engineering, antiangiogenic therapy for jaw tumors and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Diagnostic Techniques

We use the latest techniques in computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear scanning in the evaluation of facial-growth abnormalities. Computer-assisted cephalometric analysis and photography are utilized in treatment planning and outcomes prediction for orthognathic surgical and facial deformity cases.

Outpatient Services

Outpatient services—such as extractions, removal of impacted teeth, placement of dental implants, frenectomy, tongue-tie release and removal of salivary stones and other office procedures—are available with conscious and deep sedation. Mass General for Children pediatric dentists and orthodontists also collaborate in this practice.